–Registered voters expecting to be absent from the county of residence on election day.
–Registered voters appointed to be judges of election in a precinct other than where they reside.
–Registered voters unable to be present at the polls because of a physical incapacity.
–Registered voters who because of religious holiday are unable to be present at the polls because of the tenets of their religion.
–Registered voters who because of election duties in the office of a state`s attorney, county clerk, a board of election commissioners or State Board of Elections will be unable to be present at the polls.
–Registered or nonregistered members of the United States Armed Forces
(or the Merchant Marines) while on active duty as well as their spouses and dependents who expect to be absent from their country of residence on election day.
–Civilians employed by the U.S. government serving outside of the country, and their spouses and dependents, even if not registered.
–Registered or nonregistered members of religious groups, welfare agencies as well as their spouses and dependents who are officially attached to or assistant members of the Armed Forces who expect to be absent from the country in which they reside on election day.
–State and federal employees who had a voting residence in the precinct at the time they entered employment, but who now reside elsewhere because of state or federal employment.
–Registered citizens temporarily residing overseas.
–Any citizen residing outside of the country, not registered to vote but qualified to vote in a federal election, may vote by absentee ballot for federal offices.
YOUR VOTE
–For individual candidates: To vote for an individual candidate, mark the ballot in the appropriate place OPPOSITE THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE. Choose one and only one candidate for each office to be filled.
–For all candidates of one party (”A straight ticker”): To vote for all candidates of one political party, mark the ballot in the appropriate place OPPOSITE THE PARTY TITLE.
–For candidates of one party and other selected candidates: To vote for the candidates of one political party and specific candidates of other parties or independent candidates, mark the ballot box opposite the party title AND ALSO opposite the name of the other specific candidates. (For each office, the mark opposite the party title must always give way to the mark opposite the candidate`s name. The specific candidate designation cancels out the general party designation for that office.)
–For candidate teams: To vote for a team of candidates (such as governor and lieutenant governor), mark the ballot box in the appropriate place opposite the bracket enclosing the names of the team.
–For candidates not on the ballot: To vote for a ”write-in” candidate, write the name of the candidate on the ballot or ballot envelope, draw a square to the right of the name and place an ”X” inside it. Indicate the name of the specific office.
POLLWATCHERS ON DUTY
Pollwatchers–sometimes referred to as challengers, checkers or simply watchers–are election observers who aid in ensuring the free and fair conduct of elections. Pollwatchers may be in the polling place before the polls open, during voting hours and after the polls close.
A pollwatcher must be registered to vote in the county in which he or she is working and must be affiliated with the political party he or she is representing In primary elections, candidates are allowed two pollwatchers per precinct. At least one of the pollwatchers must be registered to vote in the precinct or ward.
Pollwatchers may represent established political parties, candidates, qualified civic organizations or organized proponents or opponents of ballot propositions.
Each pollwatcher must have credentials issued by the candidate or group represented and these credentials must be presented by the pollwatcher to the election judges immediately upon entering the polling place.
Pollwatchers may:
–Observe that the ballot box is empty before the first ballot is cast.
–Position themselves near enough to the election judges to examine the applications for ballot.
–Watch the judges compare the voter applicant`s signature on the applicaton with the signature on the registration records.
–Watch the judges initial and distribute the ballots to voters and deposit the ballots into the ballot box after the voters haved voted.
–Challenge a person`s right to vote but a reason must be stated. Possible reasons could be that the person voted earlier in the day, moved from the precinct or lacks qualifications. (The judges of election determine whether to sustain a challenge.)
–Observe the tally procedures after the polls close.
HOW HOSPITAL PATIENTS CAN VOTE
The following are some of the more common questions asked about how patients in hospitals can cast their ballots:
Q-I am now hospitalized and anticipate continued hospitalization until after the election. How do I vote in the upcoming election?
A–A volunteer or hospital staff member can assist a patient by obtaining an ”Application for Ballot by Physically Incapacitated Voter” from the election authority. These procedures can be handled by mail.
Q-I will be entering the hospital for surgery the day before the election. What should I do in order to vote?
A-You may wish to complete the procedures in person, if possible, as it
is faster than by mail. Contact your county clerk or the Board of Election Commissioners for the incapacitated voter`s application, being sure to have your attending physician complete the certificate on the application. Deliver the application at least one day before the election and vote your ballot in the election authority`s office.
Q-What if I am in a hospital?
A-If you are hospitalized 5 days or less before the election, a relative or a resident of your precinct may secure at the Board of Elections a special application to vote. The application must then be signed by you and a doctor and notarized. The application must be returned to the Board of Elections, which will issue you an absentee ballot. The absentee ballot must be returned to the Board of Elections before noon on Election Day.
Q-I am now a resident of a skilled care nursing facility and am physically disabled. What should I do in order to vote?
A-If you are not a permanent resident of this facility and are physically disabled, you may vote as an incapacitated voter from your permanent address. If you are a permanent resident of this facility and are physically disabled, you must transfer your registration to the address of the nursing facility and make application to vote as an incapacitated voter.
Q-I am a resident of a state mental institution. Am I still entitled to vote? If so, what procedures do I follow?
A-Because you are a patient in a mental institution, you are considered to be a resident of the town, city, village or election district or precinct in which you resided immediately prior to becoming a patient in the mental institution, and you are entitled to vote in that election district. You may vote either in person, by absentee ballot (if you are a patient in an institution outside of the county in which you resided) or as an incapacitated voter.
ELECTION JUDGES
Election judges oversee procedures in polling places. They assure that the election process is fair and lawful.
In national, state, county, township and municipal elections, election judges are selected by the county board or, if appropriate, the Board of Election Commissioners, from lists furnished by the chairmen of the county central committees of the two leading political parties. Each polling place has three judges from one party and two from another.
In precincts under the jurisdiction of the county, the party that cast the greatest number of votes for governor in the preceding general election in that precinct is represented by three judges; the party that cast the second- highest number is represented by two judges.
In precincts under the jurisdiction of boards of election commissioners, majority representation alternates between the two leading political parties. After election judges are selected, a report is filed in Circuit Court and the court is asked to confirm and appoint them.
In each precinct, at least one judge from each party must be certified as having completed a training course and examination for election judges within the preceding six months.
This course covers the duties and responsibilities of election judges. It comprises at least four hours of instruction and examinations that test reading skills, ability to add, and knowledge of election laws governing polling places.
Persons wishing to become election judges should contact the chairmen of their political parties, their county clerks or their Board of Election Commissioners.
Duties of judges:
Open and close the polls.
Are responsible for all election materials.
Ensure that only qualified voters are permitted to vote and that each qualified voter is permitted to vote only once.
Instruct voters in the method of voting, if requested.
Assist illiterate and physically disabled voters.
Maintain order in the polling place.
Tally votes after the polls are closed and certify the election results.
